The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-06-29

az eelliount OF nerve that usually scared his
| opponent INTO defeat
IA 1881 he was on his way to the national
Lb ia . WIN put few hundred dollars in
MS pocket. In St Paul he met n connie If
gentlemen from Louisville XIV. who asked
nlnl 10 take hand at cards The Major
never refused an invitation OF that nature.
dliu party OF four was soon made I'D. The
senUlenen from Louisville are well-known
Ia pontlcal circles, and have the reputation
VI pelIlg very clever card players. The game
uesaG IN a small room on the third floor of
Uile Merchants Hotel early in the evening.
ana the chips shifted from hand TO hand
without material gain to either PLAYER until
uayDreak, when the Major pulled bis heavy
slouch hat over his eyes, and, tucking one
LOU under him, his favorite position when
paying, started out to play his game. For
d time ne surprised the Southrcns at his
utter abandon, but he never showed his
nahd when he could avoid it. At last he
STOOD pat. His opponents drew cards, and
one man forced the fight with three kings,
another three queens, and a third four ten
spots. The Major made bid for more
money. He was promptly raised The
MAJOR met the raise and went it $500 better,
put his opponents were not tired and asked
MN for more. He had only $50 in his
pocket, and calling bell boy he sent note
down stairs to Col. Allen, proprietor or the
Merchants Hotel, asking him for loan of
SI,OOO. The Colonel knew his man, and up
Went check for the desired amount, and
the Major coolly dropped the check on the
Pile OF chips and money in the centre of the
| table, and, leaning back in the chair, took
cigar from his pocket and lighted it, This
was too much for the others, who sized him
up for four aces, and they threw up their
hands The Major drew in the money,
cashed the chips, and found that he had
won 81, 200 on the hand. His opponents
looked at their watches, yawned, and push
ing back their chairs said they were tired
and would quit playing. Before they left
they picked up the Majors hand and found
that he had stood pat and won the pot on a
pair of fourS.
The four spot the Major considered his
lucky card, and never failed to play it hard
whether he held one or quartette of them
and he says it never vet lost for him.
Col Morrow, citizen of Fargo, who emf
grated to that country early in the seventies
from the soil of Virginia, was about the
only card player in that country who
wouldn't take bluff from the Major. The
men were the warmest friends. They
seemed to run mutual admiration society,
but when they faced each other over a
stack OF chips they fought as warmly and as
| determinedly as though they were the
bitterest enemies.
In 70 the Major and the Colonel sat down
to game in Billy Morrison's star chamber,
which was then the headquarters of sporting
men in that part of the country. The game
had been hard one, slightly in favor of the
Colonel. Finally he opened a good sized
jack pot on a pair of kings. The Major
stayed and drew two cards which gave him
nothing but ''bobtail" flush. The Colonel
took three cards, but didn't better his hand,
and he bet $500 that his kings were good.
The Major pulled check book out of his
pocket, made out check for $1,000 and
dropped it on the centre of the table. This
was a challenge to the Colonels nerve
which he didn't hesitate moment to accept,
and without any show of excitement he
promptly called the bet. The Major threw
down his broken back flush, the Colonel
dropped his kings and raked in the money.
The game stopped there.
Alexander Mckenzie, Sheriff of Burleigh
county for many years, was a strong
player, and ranking with him were John
Haggart, for fifteen years Sheriff of Cas-
county, and Judson Lamoure, resident of
Pembina, where he owns a great deal of
property, and is sort of whipper-in for the
Republican party in that portion of the
Territory.
These men were known throughout the
Territory as the big four" and whenever
they came together there was hard game.
John Haggart was a reckless player, but
his good fortune always pulled him through
game with a winning to his credit. Jud
Lamoure, as he was Familiarity called, was
usually the victim. This quartette started a
game six years ago in Fargo that continued
from Wednesday at 10 o'clock p m. until
Saturday noon, and none of the players
slept during that time. In the end Edwards
was big winner Haggart pocketed some
thing like $1,000 while Mckenzie and
Lamoure went broke.
These men rarely meet nowadays over the
cards. Maj. Edwards is devoting himself
to the management of the Fargo Argus, of
which he is editor and proprietor, and
seldom sits down to cards When he does
it is but a friendly game of casino, hearts,
sinch or whist. He has been turning his
attention to politics of late and few weeks
ago was elected Mayor of Fargo, and his
ambition is now soaring toward the halls of
Congress.
Alexander Mckenzie last year surrendered
the shrievalty of Burleigh county, and has
settled back on the 100000 that he
accumulated when he was in Office. He
makes Bismarck his headquarters, and he is
considered the shrewdest political wire
puller in Dakota.
John Haggart was knocked out of the
Sheriff's office year ago by the Democrats,
and is now paying close attention to his
bonanza farm on the banks of the Cheyenne
river. He has made money in Dakota, and
is worth 100000.